FINAL- Metalfold Industries Bloomfield Premier 3 vs Maw Haws.
It’s 1am, over a week after the game and the lack of a write up is annoying me so here it goes.
After cyclone related rain earlier in the week, the P3 final had been moved to an artificial on Ongley Park, which was incredibly disappointing. Members of our team have played for a few different clubs over the years but none of us have ever made a final. The lack of fanfare was noticeable so it was going to be up to us to make it a day worth remembering. We pitched our tents and put out our flags. Benny even put up a clothesline to dry his socks. Unfortunately the planned BBQ never showed up but we had a couple of chilly bins and our P4 team there to support. We were ready to go.
Trout lost the toss and Maw Haws put us into bat. Jase and Chris got us off to a solid start with Jase hitting a few big boundaries and Chris rotating the strike nicely.
The good start was brought to a shuddering halt when Jase hit one straight down the ground only to be caught out by a diving catch from Rick Brosnan. Pilch went into bat at 3 only to get told the bat he has used for the past 3 seasons is not ok for this game and he had to go and get another. The new bat didn’t help much as he was soon trapped in front, LBW, by Ryan King for 3.
Chris was still looking solid at the other end and had managed to add 21 to the score before being bowled by Ryan King. At 58 for 3 we were desperately in need of a solid partnership. It never came. The next 6 wickets fell for only 55 runs with 2 run-outs adding a fair amount of salt to the wound. The only innings of note was Kurtis’ 23* who was left looking traumatised as the wickets fell around him. Bloomfield finishing 113/10 in the 30th over.
After a solid chat in the changing rooms we managed to pick ourselves up and make our way to the field. We had bowled out plenty of teams under 100 this season so we were just going to have to do it again. Ben took the new ball as usual but on running in to deliver his first ball he slipped in his delivery stride and sprained his ankle, effectively ending his season. With our 12th man on the field and Trimmy thrown in the deep end as our new opening bowler we were left to rebuild before we had even bowled a ball.
Trimmy and Gaz got us off to a tidy start with Gaz picking up 2 wickets in his first 4 overs. The good news was soon over as Gaz injured his hip and was out of the attack.
Chris took his spot bowling from the croquet end and was straight into the wickets picking up both Ryan King and Craig Harrison in his first 2 overs. Pilch also chimed in with a wicket of someone PlayHQ doesn’t know. Kurtis was busy bowling some lovely spin stuff from the other end and with it he managed to slide a ball past the defences of Greg Lough who was out bowled for a handy 19. He then picked up the wickets of Phil King and Simon Verschaffelt leaving Maw Haws reeling at 82 for 8. An injured Ian Jensen joined Rick Brosnan at the crease and together they set about getting the 33 runs they needed to win.
Some courageous bowling and exemplary fielding was not enough to stop Rick Brosnan from hitiing his way to an unbeaten 43 and sealing the win for Maw Haws. In the end it was a hell of a game to watch and it must have been even better to be a part of. From a Bloomfield perspective, with so much going against us during the game it was awesome to witness the guys dig so deep and push Maw Haws as hard as they did. As one of the guys said shortly after the game, they have “never been prouder to be part of this club”. A huge thanks for everyone who turned up to support and also to the pro umpires who officiated the game. Without you the event would have looked like a twilight semifinal.
Congratulations to Maw Haws, P3 champions again. Well deserved.
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